Gruppo dell'Ortles · 30 January 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below 1800m

Considerable

above 1800m

Avalanche Problems

Above 1800 m

Considerable (3) Dry avalanches · all day

Wind slab + Persistent weak layers Slab 3

All aspects

above 1800m

Medium Many Poor

GM.6 GM.5

Field notes

Wind slab

Look for fresh snow deposits on Slope facing downwind/ wind sheltered aspect. Snow deposits can attain several times average snow depth.EAWS glossary, in Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary and Rounded or elongated concavity; typically tending to accumulate snowdrift.EAWS glossary, and behind ridgelines and abrupt changes in terrain — these are where the wind has loaded the snow into slabs that are easy to trigger. Recent avalanches, shooting cracks under your weight, and Distinctive noise (resembling a “whumpf” sound) occurring when a weak layer beneath a slab collapses. The air of the weak layer is forced outside the snowpack, with the resulting whumpf sound being heard. The sound usually indicates an unstable situation and can be accompanied by surface cracking. A whumpf is a clear avalanche alert.EAWS glossary sounds are clear confirmations of the problem. The safest move is to avoid wind-loaded terrain entirely. NB wind signs alone don't always mean an avalanche problem exists, and the age of drifted snow is hard to judge.

Persistent weak layers

Persistent Snowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. Typical crystals in dry weak layers causing avalanches are : precipitation particles; surface hoar; faceted crystals; hollow crystals; graupel. Generally >1mm in size, loose grains with few bonds Wet weak layers can be formed by all snow crystal/grain types.EAWS glossary are very challenging to recognise. Distinctive noise (resembling a “whumpf” sound) occurring when a weak layer beneath a slab collapses. The air of the weak layer is forced outside the snowpack, with the resulting whumpf sound being heard. The sound usually indicates an unstable situation and can be accompanied by surface cracking. A whumpf is a clear avalanche alert.EAWS glossary sounds and shooting cracks are typical when present, but you can have a serious weak layer with no warning signs at the surface. Knowledge of how the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary has evolved is essential. SLF's travel advice is direct: travel conservatively, avoid terrain where the consequences of being caught are large, and treat the history of weather and snow as more important than what you can see today. Read the full bulletin.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Avalanche Activity

Outside marked and open pistes a precarious avalanche situation will prevail.

As a consequence of snowfall and the strong to storm force southwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations have increased in size on Wednesday. The wind slabs are covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. In particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes avalanches can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow and reach medium size. This applies even in case of a single winter sport participant. Caution is to be exercised in particular in Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary and Rounded or elongated concavity; typically tending to accumulate snowdrift.EAWS glossary, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as in places that are protected from the wind. The number and size of Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary will increase with altitude. Distinctive noise (resembling a “whumpf” sound) occurring when a weak layer beneath a slab collapses. The air of the weak layer is forced outside the snowpack, with the resulting whumpf sound being heard. The sound usually indicates an unstable situation and can be accompanied by surface cracking. A whumpf is a clear avalanche alert.EAWS glossary sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases. Restraint is advisable.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

31 January 2026

Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger. The current avalanche situation calls for caution and restraint.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

Up to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. This applies in particular in the south. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on Transparent, frequently flat crystals forming on the snowpack when moist air settles on the surface. It forms most often during cold, clear, humid nights. Once it is blanketed by fresh fallen snow, surface hoar is one of the most critical weak layer. See also: www.snowcrystals.itEAWS glossary in some places in particular on shady slopes above approximately 1800 m. As a consequence of a strong to storm force wind from southerly directions, sometimes large wind slabs formed. These are lying on top of a weakly bonded Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary above approximately 1800 m. The old snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

29 Jan 16:00 UTC

Valid until

30 Jan 16:00 UTC

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